Door actuator

ABSTRACT

An actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to a rotational movement for opening and closing doors and the like comprising a plunger rod, means for producing axial movement of the plunger in both axial directions, and camming means associated with the plunger rod to produce alternating clockwise and counterclockwise rotational movement of one of the plunger rods and camming means, means for alternating the direction of the rotational movement after each cycle of axial movement of the plunger rod in both axial directions.

Umted States Patent [191 [111 3,919,890 Workman Nov. 18, 1975 1 DOORACTUATOR 2,747,417 5/1956 Brown 74/57 [75] Inventor: James workman,Lakewood, 2,849,710 8/1958 Wade 74/57 Primary ExaminerSamuel ScottAsslgnee? Brass p y, Grand Assistant Etan'1iner-Wesley S. Ratliff, Jr.

P Mlch- Attorney, Agent, or FirmPrice, l-leneveld, Huizenga 22 Filed:May 2, 1974 &

[21] Appl. No.: 466,294

Related US. Application Data Continuation of Ser. No. 352,250, April 18,1973, abandoned,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1923 Clarke ..74/89 12/1940Steiss ABSTRACT An actuator assembly for converting a linear movement toa rotational movement for opening and closing doors and the likecomprising a plunger rod, means for producing axial movement of theplunger in both axial directions, and camming means associated with theplunger rod to produce alternating clockwise and counterclockwiserotational movement of one of the plunger rods and camming means, meansfor alternating the direction of the rotational movement after eachcycle of axial movement of the plunger rod in both axial directions.

25 laims, 18 Drawing Figures 9 U.S.- Patent Nov. 18, 19 75 Sheet1of43,919,890

U.S. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet2of4 3,919,890

f 20 hi;

U.S.- Patent Nov. 1 8, 19 75 Sheet30f4 3,919,890

DOOR ACTUATOR CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The presentapplication is a continuation application of Ser. No. 352,250 filed Apr.18, 1973 now abandoned and entitled DOOR ACTUATOR.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an actuatorassembly and more particularly, to an actuator assembly for converting alinear movement to a rotational movement.

A wide variety of actuators for converting linear movement to rotationalmovement have been developed and utilized in the past, typically foropening various doors and the like, e.g., furnace doors, automobile ventwindows, automobile heating and air conditioning duct doors, etc. Theseactuators generally include some type of linear motive means such as avacuum motor andsome type of gear arrangement, e.g., a worm gearassembly to convert the linear movement of the vacuum motor to arotational movement which acts upon the door or the like which is to bemoved through an arc. Clockwise and counterclockwise rotational movementis generally accomplished by changing the direction of linear movementcaused by the vacuum motor, i.e., reversing the motor. Although some ofthese actuators have been generally satisfactory, they have somedisadvantages such as bulkiness, complicated linkages, unreliability,and high cost of manufacture. Accordingly, there is a continuing needfor improved actuators to eliminate the above disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there isprovided an actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to arotational movement which is compact, reliable, and inexpensive tomanufacture. The actuator assembly comprises a plunger rod and means forproducing axial movement of the plunger rod in both axial directions,preferably a combination solenoid or vacuum motor and spring means.Camming means are associated with the plunger rod to produce alternatingclockwise and counterclockwise rotational movement of one of the plungerand camming means with the direction of the rotational movementalternating after each cycle of axial movement of the plunger rod inboth axial directions. Preferably, the camming means is a tubular cammember having a pair of opposing cam surface openings in the side wallthereof with the plunger rod being rotatably and slidably mountedaxially through the cam member. The plunger rod has a transverse boretherethrough extending between the pair of cam surface openings in thecam member with a cam follower pin being slidably received in the boreand having a length greater than the diameter of the plunger and lessthan the outside diameter of the cam member so as to be shiftablebetween a first position where one end of the cam follower pin followsone of the cam surface openings in the cam member and a second positionwhere the other end of the cam follower pin follows the cam surface ofthe other of the cam surface openings in the cam member. Also,preferably, a solenoid or a vac uum motor is used to produce axialmovement of the plunger rod in one direction and a biasing means such asa coil spring is employed to urge the plunger in the opposite axialdirection. Each of the cam surface open- 2 ings in the cam member hasthe same general configuration but is the mirror image of the other ofthe cam surface openings.

Each of the cam surface openings preferably has an inclined portion forproducing rotational movement of the plunger and a portion generallyparallel to the axis of the plunger which produces no rotation of theplunger and which includes a pin-shifting portion which shifts the camfollower pin from one cam surface opening to the other cam surfaceopening when the pin is urged thereagainst upon axial movement of theplunger produced by the coil spring. It is especially preferred that theactuator assembly be mounted along the side edge of the door or the liketo be actuated, with means for slidably and anti-rotationally affixingone end of the plunger rod to the door and means for rigidly affixingthe cam member to the door jamb or the like with the door being'free torotate about the cam member and the axial motive means when it is openedor closed by the plunger rod rotation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of atypical door and door jamb with the actuator assembly of the presentinvention being operably mounted thereto;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the door and door jamb of FIG. 1 withthe door removed from the door jamb and thedoor hinge being opened toexpose the actuator assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side, cross-sectional view of the actuator assembly of thepresent invention taken along the line III-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top, cross-sectional view of the actuator assembly of thepresent invention taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the cam member and a portion of theplunger rod of the actuator assembly showing successive positions of thecam follower pin during rotational movement of the plunger rod;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the cam member and a portion of theplunger rod of the actuator assembly showing successive positions of thecam follower pin during axial movement of the plunger rod with norotational movement;

FIGS.7-l1 are cross-sectional views of the cam member of FIG. 5 takenalong the lines VII-VII, VIII- VIII, IX-IX, X-X, and XIXI of FIG. 5,respectively;

FIGS. 12-15 are cross-sectional views of the cam member of FIG. 6 takenalong the lines XII-XII, XIII- -XIII, XIV--XIV, and XVXV of FIG. 6,respectively;

FIG. 16 is the same view as FIG. 2 only with an alternate axial motivepower means being employed in the actuator assembly;

FIG. 17 is a side, cross-sectional view of the actuator assembly of FIG.16 taken along the line XVIIXVII of FIG. 16; and

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the cam member employed in the actuatorassembly of FIGS. 16 and 17.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIG. 1, aperspective view of a typical door 10 and door jamb 11 of, for example,an automobile heating or air conditioning outlet duct is shown. Alongone edge of door 10 is a housing 12 which houses an actuator assembly 20of the present invention. Actuator assembly 20 and the manner in whichit is housed in housing 12 is more clearly shown in FIG. 2 wherein doorhas been raised from door jamb 11 and housing 12 opened to exposeactuator assembly 20. Housing 12 includes a closure flap portion 13which is integrally hinged at 14 by a so-called living hinge. Recesses15 and 16 are provided in door 10 and in flap 13 respectively to providea cylindrical housing 12 for actuator assembly 20 when flap 13 is in theclosed position. Extending from one end of recess 15 is the dowelextension 16a which is rotatably mounted in door jamb 11 to providerotation for door 10 at that end.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the actuator 20 assembly includes a tubularcoil form or stator 21, a coil 22, and a plunger rod which comprises anarmature 30.

The stator includes a coil-receiving portion 21a about which the coil 22is wound and a cam-receiving portion 21b for receiving a cam member 50.Cam member 50 is secured within cam-receiving portion 21b by suitableset screws 51 or the like. The stator 21 is keyed to the door jamb 11 bya flat end portion 23 extending from the end of the stator adjacent oneend of the portion 21a and received in the recess 17 of the door jamb.End portion 23 is held in place in recess 17 by means of a suitableretaining plate member 18 or the like. Between the flat end portion 23and coil-receiving portion 21a is a bearing portion 24 about which thehousing 12 of door 10 is rotatably mounted, Thus, the housing 12 and theentire door 10 is rotatably mounted by means of bearing portion 24 andthe dowel extension 16a to provide the means for opening and closing thedoor.

The stator 21 has a central bore 25 slidably receiving the armature formovement therein in response to flux created by coil 22.

Armature 30 is a cylindrical member atone end 33 having across-sectional size approximating the size of bore 25 and at the otherend 32 is fiat in cross section. Between the two ends 32 and 33 is adisc-shaped portion 31 providing a shoulder for a spring 40 locatedbetween the portion 31 of the armature 30 and the camreceiving portion21b of the stator 21. Thus, the armature is biased by spring 40 in adirection outwardly away from the stator, the bias being overcome by themagnetic pull on the armature 30 when the coil 22 is energized.

The sliding movement of the armature 30 in bore 25 is translated intorotatable movement by means of the cam member 50 which includes opposingcam surface openings 52 and 53 cut out of the cylindrical wall of thecam member 50, and a cam follower pin 60 slidably mounted transverselyof the axis of armature 30 within the bore 61. The pin 60 is of a lengththat it will extend through bore 61 and into only one or other of thecam surface openings 52 or 53. Thus, it is shiftable through bore 61 toa position where only the one of the ends extends out of bore 61 tofollow one of the cam surface openings in cam member 50 or a positionwhere only the other end extends out of the opposite side of bore 61 tofollow the opposite cam surface opening in cam member 50 (as explainedbelow). Preferably, the pin is a cylindrical member formed from aresilient but lubricious material such as nylon and has a central slit62 to increase its transverse resilience so that a wedge but shiftablefit of pin 60 in bore 61 is achieved.

The rotational movement of the armature 30 is trans-- mitted torotational movement of door 10 by means of keying the flat end 32 ofarmature 30 to the housing 12 of the door. This is accomplished byslidably securing follower pin 60 will follow the inclined portion ofthe the end 32 between two walls or plates 19a and 19b which areintegral with the door.

The cooperation of cam follower pin 60 with cam member 50 is mostclearly shown in FIGS. 5-15. Referring first to FIG. 5, a side view ofcam member 50 with the portion of armature or plunger rod 30 passingtherethrough isshown. Cam member 50 has a pair of opposing cam surfaceopenings 52 and 53. Cam surface openings 52 and 53 have the sameconfiguration except they are mirror images of one another. Each openinghas an inclined portion 54 and a portion 55 which is generally parallelto the axis of plunger rod 30. Toward the end of portion 55 remote fromthe junction of portion 54 and portion 55 a detent portion 56 isprovided which slopes progressively inwardly radially as shown in FIGS.8 and 7 forming a pin-shifting portion.

In operation, actuation of the solenoid will move armature 30 axially inthe direction of the arrow (FIG. 5), and cam follower pin 60 will followinclined cam surface 54 through the various positions 60a-60e to producea counterclockwise rotation of armature 30 to thereby open door 10.FIGS. 7-11 more clearly show the successive positions 60a-60e of camfollower pin 60, the counterclockwise rotation of armature 30, andopening movement of door 10.

Referring to FIG. 6 and FIGS. 12-15, when the solenoid motive force isdiscontinued, biasing spring 40 will urge armature 30 in the reverseaxial direction as shown by the arrow. Cam follower pin 60 willthenfollow cam surface portion 55 through positions 60f-60i with norotation of armature 30 being produced.

As armature 30 is moved axially by biasing spring 40, the end of camfollower pin 60 will abut detent portion 56 which will shift pin 60through the transverse bore 61 in armature 30 as shown in FIGS. 14 and16 to position the other end of pin 60 in contact with the inclined camsurface portion of the opposite cam surface opening in cam member 50 asshown in FIG. 15. Thus, the next time actuation of the solenoid producesaxial movement of armature 30, a clockwise rotation of armature 30 toclose door 10 will be produced since cam opposite cam surface opening.Therefore, repeated actuation of the solenoid motive means will producealternative opening and closing rotation of armature 30.

While a solenoid motive means has been described and illustrated in theabove embodiment to produce axial movement of armature 30 in onedirection, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that anymotive means which produces axial movement of armature 30 can beemployed in the actuator assembly. Thus, in FIGS. 16-18, the solenoidmotive means has been replaced with a vacuum motor which includes avacuum housing 121. To minimize cost, housing 121 comprises section 152and section a, section 150a being an integral extension of cam member50. The periphery of a rubber or other suitable diaphragm 156 is mountedat the interface of section 152 and section 150a of housing 121 to forma vacuum chamber 155. The end of armature 30 is secured to the centralportion of diaphragm 156 by a suitable screw means 157. At the end ofvacuum chamber 155, a suitable conduit 153 is provided to permit avacuum to be drawn on chamber 155 at 154. Thus, as a vacuum is drawn onchamber 155, armature 30 is caused to move in the direction of the arrowin FIG. 17 to produce the same counterclockwise rotational movement ofarmature 30 as described above. As air is returned to chamber 155through 154,

- biasing means 40 will move armature 30 in the opposite axial directionas explained above to cause the cam follower pin to shift to theopposite cam surface opening in cam member 150.

Thus, the present invention provides an actuator assembly which issimple and reliable in operation and which produces alternating rotationof a plunger rod or armature to yield alternating opening and closingmovement for a variety of doors, windows, and the like. While apreferred embodiment of the present invention has been described andillustrated with some modifications, it will be obvious to those skilledin the art that additional modifications can be made without departingfrom the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of thisinvention is deemed to be limited only by the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to a rotationalmovement comprising: a plunger rod; means for producing axial movementof said plunger in both axial directions; camming means associated withsaid plunger rod to produce alternating clockwise and counterclockwiserotational movement of one of said plunger rod and said camming means;and means for alternating the direction of said rotational movement ofsaid one of said plunger rod and said camming means after each cycle ofaxial movement of said plunger rod.

2. An actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to a rotationalmovement comprising a plunger rod; means for producing axial movement ofsaid plunger in both axial directions; camming means associated withsaid plunger rod to produce alternating clockwise and counterclockwiserotational movement of said plunger rod; and means for alternating thedirection of said rotational movement after each cycle of axial movementof said plunger rod in both axial directions.

3. An actuator assembly according to claim 2 wherein said camming meanscomprises: a tubular cam member having a pair of opposing cam surfaceopenings in the side wall thereof, said plunger rod rotatably andslidably being mounted axially through said camming member; a camfollower pin extending through a transverse bore in said plunger rod;and means in response to the rotatable position of saidplunger rod toshift said pin axially in said bore so as to alternately follow each ofsaid cam surface openings in said cam member as said plunger rod ismoved through said cycles of said axial movement.

4. An actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to a rotationalmovement comprising a tubular cam member having a pair of opposing camsurface openings in the side wall thereof; aplunger rod rotatably andslidably mounted axially through said cam member and having a transversebore therethrough extending between said pair of cam surface openings insaid cam member; a cam follower pin slidably received in said bore andhaving a length greater than the diameter of said plunger and less thanthe outside diameter of said cam member so as to be shiftable between aposition where one end of said cam follower pin follows one of said camsurface openings in said cam member and a position where the other endof said cam follower pin follows the cam surface of the other of saidcam surface openings in said cam member; means for producing axialmovement of said plunger in one direction; and biasing means urging saidplunger in the opposite axial direction; each of said cam surfaceopenings having the same general configuration but being the mirrorimage of the other of said cam surface openings, each of said camsurface openings having an inclined portion for producing rotationalmovement of said plunger upon axial movement of said plunger in said onedirection and a portion generally parallel to the axis of said plungerwhich produces no rotation of said plunger and which includes apin-shifting portion which shifts said cam follower pin from one camsurface opening to the other of said cam surface openings when said pinis urged thereagainst upon axial movement of said plunger in saidopposite direction produced by said biasing means.

5. An actuator according to claim 4 wherein said means for producingaxial movement of said plunger in said one direction is anelectromagnetic means.

6. An actuator assembly according to claim 5 wherein saidelectromagnetic means comprises a tubular coil form rotatably andshiftably axially receiving one end of said plunger and having spiralwound electrically conductive wire around the periphery thereof.

7. An actuator assembly according to claim 6 wherein saidelectromagnetic means comprises a solenoid.

8. An actuator assembly according to claim 6 wherein said biasing meansis a coil spring.

9. An actuator assembly according to claim 4 wherein said means forproducing axial movement of said plunger in said one direction is avacuum motor.

10. An actuator assembly according to claim 9 wherein one end of saidplunger is operably engaged with said vacuum motor.

11. An actuator assembly according to claim 4 wherein said plunger rodhas means at one end thereof for slidably and anti-rotationally affixingsaid plunger rod to a door or the like and wherein said cam memberincludes means for rigidly affixing said cam member to a door jamb orthe like.

12. An actuator assembly according to claim 11 wherein said door or thelike includes an actuator housing along one end thereof, said endextending along the axis of rotation of said door or the like; andwherein said actuator assembly is housed within said housing.

13. An actuator assembly according to claim 12 wherein said housingincludes a closure flap portion which is hinged to the remaining portionof said housing.

14. An actuator assembly according to claim 13 wherein said closure flapportion is hinged to said remaining housing portion by a living hinge.

15. An actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to arotational movement comprising a plunger rod; camming means associatedwith said plunger rod; means for producing axial movement of one of saidplunger rod and said camming means in both axial directions; saidcamming means being associated with said plunger rod to producealternating clockwise and counterclockwise rotational movement of saidone of said plunger rod and said camming means; and means foralternating the direction of said rotational movement after each cycleof axial movement of said one of said plunger rod and said camming meansin both axial directions.

16. An actuator assembly according to claim 15 wherein said cammingmeans comprises a tubular cam member having a pair of opposing camsurface openings in the side wall thereof, said plunger rod beingmounted axially through said cam member with one of said plunger rod andsaid cam member being rotatable and slidable with respect to the otherof said plunger rod and said cam member; a cam follower pin extendingthrough a transverse bore in said plunger rod; and means in response tothe position of said plunger rod to shift said pin axially in said boreso as to alternately follow each of said cam surface openings in saidcam member as said one of said plunger rod and said cam member is movedthrough said cycles of said axial movement.

17. An actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to arotational movement comprising a tubular cam member having a pair ofopposing cam surface openings in the side wall thereof; a plunger rodmounted axially through said cam member and having a transverse boretherethrough extending between said pair of cam surface openings in saidcam member, said plunger rod and said tubular cam member being rotatableand slidable with respect to each other; a cam follower pin slidablyreceived in said bore and having a length greater than the diameter ofsaid plunger and less than the outside diameter of said cam member so asto be shiftable between a position where one end of said cam followerpin follows one of said cam surface openings in said cam member and aposition where the other end of said cam follower pin follows the camsurface of the other of said cam surface openings in said cam member;means for producing axial movement of one of said tubular cam member andsaid plunger in one direction; and biasing means urging said one of saidplunger and said tubular cam member'in the opposite axial direction;each of said cam surface openings having the same general configurationbut being the mirror image of the other of said cam surface openings,each of said cam surface openings having an inclined portion forproducing rotational movement of said one of said plunger and saidtubular cam member upon axial movement of said one of said plunger andsaid tubular cam member in said one direction and a portion generallyparallel to the axis of said plunger which produces no rotation of saidone of said plunger and said tubular cam member and which includes apin-shifting portion which shifts said cam follower pin from one camsurface opening to the other of said cam surface openings when said pinis urged thereagainst upon axial movement of said one of said plungerand said tubular cam member in said opposite axial direction produced bysaid biasing means.

18. An actuator according to claim 17 wherein said means for producingaxial movement of said one of said plunger and said tubular cam memberin said one direction is an electromagnetic means.

19. An actuator assembly for producing rotation of a first member withrespect to a second member, said first member including an elongatedhousing located along the axis of rotation of said first member forhousing said actuator; said actuator comprising a linear actuating meansincluding a plunger rod keyed to one of said members; a camming meansassociated with said plunger rod and keyed to the other of saidmembers;.

means for producing axial movement of one of said plunger rod and saidcamming means in both axial directions; said camming means beingassociated with said plunger rod to produce alternating clockwise andcounterclockwise rotational movement of said first member; and means foralternating the direction of said rotational movement after each cycleof axial movement of said one of said plunger rod and said camming meansin both axial directions.

20. An actuator assembly according to claim 19 wherein said cammingmeans comprises a tubular cam member having a pair of opposing camsurface openings in the side wall thereof, said plunger rod beingmounted axially through said cam member with one of said plunger rod andsaid cam member being rotatable and slidable with respect to the otherof said plunger rod and said cam member; a cam follower pin extendingthrough a transverse bore in said plunger rod; and means in response tothe position of said plunger rod to shift said pin axially in said boreso as to alternately follow each of said cam surface openings in saidcam member as said one of said plunger rod and said cam member is movedthrough said cycles of said axial movement.

21. An actuator assembly according to claim 20 wherein said plunger rodis keyed to said first member and said one of said plunger rod and saidcam member is said plunger rod.

22. An actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to arotational movement comprising: a plunger rod; means for producing axialmovement of said plunger in both axial directions; camming meansassociated with said plunger rod to produce alternating clockwise andcounterclockwise rotational movement of one of said plunger rod and saidcamming means, said camming means including a cam follower pin extendingtransversely to said plunger rod so as to alternately engage saidcamming means to cause said alternating clockwise and counterclockwiserotation of one of said plunger rod and said camming means as one ofsaid plunger rod or camming means is moved relative to the other throughsaid cycles of axial movement.

23. An actuator assembly according to claim 1 wherein said camming meansassociated with said plunger rod includes means associated therewith forproducing movement thereof in both of said axial directions of saidplunger rod.

24. An actuator assembly for connecting a linear movement to arotational movement comprising: a plunger rod including a transversebore therethrough; means for producing axial movement of said plunger inboth axial directions; a camming means; and a follower pin slideablymounted through said transverse bore in said plunger, said pin beingcapable of alternatively enlower pin causes rotation of said plungerrod.

1. An actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to a rotationalmovement comprising: a plunger rod; means for producing axial movementof said plunger in both axial directions; camming means associated withsaid plunger rod to produce alternating clockwise and countercloCkwiserotational movement of one of said plunger rod and said camming means;and means for alternating the direction of said rotational movement ofsaid one of said plunger rod and said camming means after each cycle ofaxial movement of said plunger rod.
 2. An actuator assembly forconverting a linear movement to a rotational movement comprising aplunger rod; means for producing axial movement of said plunger in bothaxial directions; camming means associated with said plunger rod toproduce alternating clockwise and counterclockwise rotational movementof said plunger rod; and means for alternating the direction of saidrotational movement after each cycle of axial movement of said plungerrod in both axial directions.
 3. An actuator assembly according to claim2 wherein said camming means comprises: a tubular cam member having apair of opposing cam surface openings in the side wall thereof, saidplunger rod rotatably and slidably being mounted axially through saidcamming member; a cam follower pin extending through a transverse borein said plunger rod; and means in response to the rotatable position ofsaid plunger rod to shift said pin axially in said bore so as toalternately follow each of said cam surface openings in said cam memberas said plunger rod is moved through said cycles of said axial movement.4. An actuator assembly for converting a linear movement to a rotationalmovement comprising a tubular cam member having a pair of opposing camsurface openings in the side wall thereof; a plunger rod rotatably andslidably mounted axially through said cam member and having a transversebore therethrough extending between said pair of cam surface openings insaid cam member; a cam follower pin slidably received in said bore andhaving a length greater than the diameter of said plunger and less thanthe outside diameter of said cam member so as to be shiftable between aposition where one end of said cam follower pin follows one of said camsurface openings in said cam member and a position where the other endof said cam follower pin follows the cam surface of the other of saidcam surface openings in said cam member; means for producing axialmovement of said plunger in one direction; and biasing means urging saidplunger in the opposite axial direction; each of said cam surfaceopenings having the same general configuration but being the mirrorimage of the other of said cam surface openings, each of said camsurface openings having an inclined portion for producing rotationalmovement of said plunger upon axial movement of said plunger in said onedirection and a portion generally parallel to the axis of said plungerwhich produces no rotation of said plunger and which includes apin-shifting portion which shifts said cam follower pin from one camsurface opening to the other of said cam surface openings when said pinis urged thereagainst upon axial movement of said plunger in saidopposite direction produced by said biasing means.
 5. An actuatoraccording to claim 4 wherein said means for producing axial movement ofsaid plunger in said one direction is an electromagnetic means.
 6. Anactuator assembly according to claim 5 wherein said electromagneticmeans comprises a tubular coil form rotatably and shiftably axiallyreceiving one end of said plunger and having spiral wound electricallyconductive wire around the periphery thereof.
 7. An actuator assemblyaccording to claim 6 wherein said electromagnetic means comprises asolenoid.
 8. An actuator assembly according to claim 6 wherein saidbiasing means is a coil spring.
 9. An actuator assembly according toclaim 4 wherein said means for producing axial movement of said plungerin said one direction is a vacuum motor.
 10. An actuator assemblyaccording to claim 9 wherein one end of said plunger is operably engagedwith said vacuum motor.
 11. An actuator assembly according to claim 4wherein said plunger rod has means at one end thereof for slidably andanti-rotationally affixing said plunger rod to a door or the like andwherein said cam member includes means for rigidly affixing said cammember to a door jamb or the like.
 12. An actuator assembly according toclaim 11 wherein said door or the like includes an actuator housingalong one end thereof, said end extending along the axis of rotation ofsaid door or the like; and wherein said actuator assembly is housedwithin said housing.
 13. An actuator assembly according to claim 12wherein said housing includes a closure flap portion which is hinged tothe remaining portion of said housing.
 14. An actuator assemblyaccording to claim 13 wherein said closure flap portion is hinged tosaid remaining housing portion by a living hinge.
 15. An actuatorassembly for converting a linear movement to a rotational movementcomprising a plunger rod; camming means associated with said plungerrod; means for producing axial movement of one of said plunger rod andsaid camming means in both axial directions; said camming means beingassociated with said plunger rod to produce alternating clockwise andcounterclockwise rotational movement of said one of said plunger rod andsaid camming means; and means for alternating the direction of saidrotational movement after each cycle of axial movement of said one ofsaid plunger rod and said camming means in both axial directions.
 16. Anactuator assembly according to claim 15 wherein said camming meanscomprises a tubular cam member having a pair of opposing cam surfaceopenings in the side wall thereof, said plunger rod being mountedaxially through said cam member with one of said plunger rod and saidcam member being rotatable and slidable with respect to the other ofsaid plunger rod and said cam member; a cam follower pin extendingthrough a transverse bore in said plunger rod; and means in response tothe position of said plunger rod to shift said pin axially in said boreso as to alternately follow each of said cam surface openings in saidcam member as said one of said plunger rod and said cam member is movedthrough said cycles of said axial movement.
 17. An actuator assembly forconverting a linear movement to a rotational movement comprising atubular cam member having a pair of opposing cam surface openings in theside wall thereof; a plunger rod mounted axially through said cam memberand having a transverse bore therethrough extending between said pair ofcam surface openings in said cam member, said plunger rod and saidtubular cam member being rotatable and slidable with respect to eachother; a cam follower pin slidably received in said bore and having alength greater than the diameter of said plunger and less than theoutside diameter of said cam member so as to be shiftable between aposition where one end of said cam follower pin follows one of said camsurface openings in said cam member and a position where the other endof said cam follower pin follows the cam surface of the other of saidcam surface openings in said cam member; means for producing axialmovement of one of said tubular cam member and said plunger in onedirection; and biasing means urging said one of said plunger and saidtubular cam member in the opposite axial direction; each of said camsurface openings having the same general configuration but being themirror image of the other of said cam surface openings, each of said camsurface openings having an inclined portion for producing rotationalmovement of said one of said plunger and said tubular cam member uponaxial movement of said one of said plunger and said tubular cam memberin said one direction and a portion generally parallel to the axis ofsaid plunger which produces no rotation of said one of said plunger andsaid tubular cam member and which includes a pin-shifting portion whichshifts said cam follower pin from one cam surface opening to the otherof said cam surface openings when said pin is urged thereagainst uponaxial movement of said one of said plunger and said tubular cam memberin said opposite axial direction produced by said biasing means.
 18. Anactuator according to claim 17 wherein said means for producing axialmovement of said one of said plunger and said tubular cam member in saidone direction is an electromagnetic means.
 19. An actuator assembly forproducing rotation of a first member with respect to a second member,said first member including an elongated housing located along the axisof rotation of said first member for housing said actuator; saidactuator comprising a linear actuating means including a plunger rodkeyed to one of said members; a camming means associated with saidplunger rod and keyed to the other of said members; means for producingaxial movement of one of said plunger rod and said camming means in bothaxial directions; said camming means being associated with said plungerrod to produce alternating clockwise and counterclockwise rotationalmovement of said first member; and means for alternating the directionof said rotational movement after each cycle of axial movement of saidone of said plunger rod and said camming means in both axial directions.20. An actuator assembly according to claim 19 wherein said cammingmeans comprises a tubular cam member having a pair of opposing camsurface openings in the side wall thereof, said plunger rod beingmounted axially through said cam member with one of said plunger rod andsaid cam member being rotatable and slidable with respect to the otherof said plunger rod and said cam member; a cam follower pin extendingthrough a transverse bore in said plunger rod; and means in response tothe position of said plunger rod to shift said pin axially in said boreso as to alternately follow each of said cam surface openings in saidcam member as said one of said plunger rod and said cam member is movedthrough said cycles of said axial movement.
 21. An actuator assemblyaccording to claim 20 wherein said plunger rod is keyed to said firstmember and said one of said plunger rod and said cam member is saidplunger rod.
 22. An actuator assembly for converting a linear movementto a rotational movement comprising: a plunger rod; means for producingaxial movement of said plunger in both axial directions; camming meansassociated with said plunger rod to produce alternating clockwise andcounterclockwise rotational movement of one of said plunger rod and saidcamming means, said camming means including a cam follower pin extendingtransversely to said plunger rod so as to alternately engage saidcamming means to cause said alternating clockwise and counterclockwiserotation of one of said plunger rod and said camming means as one ofsaid plunger rod or camming means is moved relative to the other throughsaid cycles of axial movement.
 23. An actuator assembly according toclaim 1 wherein said camming means associated with said plunger rodincludes means associated therewith for producing movement thereof inboth of said axial directions of said plunger rod.
 24. An actuatorassembly for connecting a linear movement to a rotational movementcomprising: a plunger rod including a transverse bore therethrough;means for producing axial movement of said plunger in both axialdirections; a camming means; and a follower pin slideably mountedthrough said transverse bore in said plunger, said pin being capable ofalternatively engaging said camming means so as to cause alternatingclockwise and counterclockwise rotation of one of said plunger rod andsaid camming means.
 25. An actuator assembly according to claim 24wherein said camming means when engaged by said follower pin causesrotation of said plunger rod.